After being taken captive by alleged bandits on January 6, 2024, in the Katari neighborhood of Kaduna, thirteen children have been held captive for twenty-three days.
In the Katari region of the state, the bandits are said to have slain 53-year-old Mr. Tijani Amedu, a baker, and taken 13 of his relatives, most of whom are youngsters, who were traveling with him.
The victims were traveling back to Kaduna from their visit to Warri, Delta State, when the incident occurred.
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When our correspondent queried Rasaq, the brother of the businessman who was born in Edo State, about the children over a Sunday chat, he replied, “They are still with the kidnappers.”
“Nothing please,” he said when asked what the police had done in relation to the situation.
“They came to visit for the Christmas and New Year holidays,” Rasaq added, recounting how the event occurred more than a week ago. However, they were ambushed by bandits on their way back to Kaduna, which involved taking two busses. I was informed that the bandits opened fire upon spotting them. The second bus halted, but the first one went right through them. The 13 children and my older brother were on the second bus. They were all taken by the bandits.
He claimed that after the kids began speaking to them while they were in captivity, the family members found out. The family claims that after bargaining from N200m, the kidnappers are now requesting N50m.
“They started (the ransom) negotiation from N200m, but now, we’re at N50m,” Rasaq stated, citing the information provided to him by the children. “My elder brother’s head was hit and he fell (leading to his death)”
Amedu’s wife Zinab, who verified her husband’s death, had stated the family was looking for assistance in this case.
In a previous phone conversation, Zinab said to our correspondent, “They killed my husband and they went away with 13 children,” and the family was asking for “prayers and help from anybody who can help.” Thirteen of our kids are living with them.
In a previous phone conversation, Zinab informed our correspondent, “They killed my husband and they went away with 13 children,” and the family was asking for “prayers and help from anybody who can help.” Thirteen of our kids are living with them.
ASP Mansur Hassan, the public relations officer for the Kaduna State Police, responded that the command would look into the issue when he was reached on Sunday. “We’ll look into it and get back to you,” the PPRO responded over the phone. He had not responded to our correspondent at the time this article was filed.
After holding him captive for around three days along the Benin-Ore Expressway, kidnappers released Akeem Kareem last week.
Sefiu, Kareem’s son, who attested to this, stated that his father’s release followed the kidnappers’ payment of a N3 million ransom.